Eskom Inquiry: Singh’s delay tactics buys him time

Suspended Eskom CFO Anoj Singh’s gamble submitting documents the night before his testimony paid off as it has been postponed to next year.

Suspended Eskom chief financial officer Anoj Singh ruffled the feathers of members of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, but the gamble paid off as his testimony has been postponed until next year.

Singh was expected to testify at the inquiry into allegations of corruption and state capture at state-owned power utility Eskom this week, but he caused the committee some inconvenience when he submitted requested documents the night before his appearance.

MPs were rather miffed and accused Singh of being disrespectful and purposefully using delaying tactics by submitting the 400-page package so late. They said he did not give them enough time to study the documents.

His appearance has thus been rescheduled for next year.

Fortunately, the postponement of Singh’s testimony did not bring the inquiry to a halt. It will continue on Wednesday with the Eskom board taking the hot seat.

The Eskom board will this week be grilled, with board chairperson Zethembe Khoza currently in the line of fire.

He began his testimony on Tuesday, roundly denying allegations made a few weeks ago before the inquiry by board spokesperson Khulani Qoma that he had alerted the Guptas to the intended suspension of former chief executive officer Matshela Koko, which in turn prompted Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown to intervene.